(Newser)
–
An email from a stranger brought an entirely unexpected end to Alaina Emery’s 13-year hunt for her father. “Is your father’s name Robert Emery?” the emailer asked. “The whole city of Houston is looking for any relatives.” Emery, Alaina soon learned, was being hailed as a hero, having died while dashing across a freeway trying to save three dogs during Hurricane Ike, reports the Houston Chronicle.

Though animal lovers everywhere were praising Emery, authorities could find no relatives for the 54-year-old construction worker, and were about to bury him as a pauper. Emery had led a lonely existence, his drug problems destroying two marriages. Alaina had appeared on television as recently as last week looking for him. “I am very saddened that I could not find him in life,” she said, “but somehow he found me in death.”